Photographer: Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images
A desert locust outbreak that’s the worst in 25 years is threatening pastures and crops on both sides of the Red Sea and could spread to Uganda and South Sudan, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization said.
A potentially threatening situation is developing along both sides of the Red Sea with locust numbers increasing on the coasts of Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the FAO said on its website.
“There is a risk that some swarms could appear in northeast Uganda, southeast South Sudan and southwest Ethiopia,” it said. While control operations are going on in all affected countries, insecurity and a lack of national capacity have limited efforts in Somalia, FAO said.
While large swarms appeared near Kenya’s border with Somalia at the end of December, there’s low risk of breeding there, the FAO said. The East African nation is already spraying swathes of land in its northeast region, the Star newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Locusts can cover as much as 150 kilometers (93 miles) a day and an average swarm will destroy crops sufficient to feed 2,500 people for a year, according to the UN.
(Updates with Kenyan measures in fourth paragraph)
Newer articles:
- South Sudan’s main rebel group condemns fresh attack - 09/01/2020 02:14
- U.S. imposes sanctions on South Sudanese vice president Taban Deng Gai - 08/01/2020 10:11
- Dubai ports giant DP World hired ex-Israeli intelligence agent to lobby for Sudan port control - 08/01/2020 09:51
- Yei bishop urges total peace in South Sudan - 08/01/2020 02:16
- Food insecure South Sudan banks on oil money for agriculture - 07/01/2020 07:35
Older news items
- Controversy continues regarding South Sudan archbishop appointment - 06/01/2020 14:29
- MADUT: South Sudan needs an honest conversation about its future in the regional bloc - 06/01/2020 05:26
- Oh! Mother Africa, Why is there only one children's hospital in the Republic of South Sudan? - 06/01/2020 05:17
- Donors urge South Sudan to form unity government before deadline - 05/01/2020 23:35
- Sudan hopeful of reaching peace with rebels as negotiations resume in Juba - 05/01/2020 03:27
Latest news items (all categories):
- South Sudan needs ‘civic education’ before elections, says bishop - 16/01/2025 16:42
- South Sudan parties set to resume peace talks in Kenya - 16/01/2025 16:39
- Abandoned but not forgotten – the invisible crisis in South Sudan - 16/01/2025 16:35
- The SAF has committed barbaric atrocities against South Sudanese refugees in Wad Medani - 16/01/2025 16:27
- Syria 2025: The historical Syrian project: From revolution to a modern inclusive civil state - 16/01/2025 16:10
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan issues new rules on sale of US dollars - 30/11/2014 06:51
- 103 said killed in South Sudan cattle raid clash - Las Vegas Sun - 17/02/2013 06:24
- S Sudan starvation zones need aid - 13/01/2016 04:47
- Security Council extends mandate of UN mission in Abyei - 15/11/2022 04:59
- Ceasefire Monitoring in South Sudan 2014–2019: “A Very Ugly Mission” - 30/08/2019 07:13
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 61769 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22308 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21496 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19063 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 18820 times